Hanger beam assembly

Abstract

A main beam support mounting bracket formed from aluminum for a vehicle. The main beam support mounting bracket has a first lateral end that is mechanically secured to a main beam support and a second lateral end that is mechanically secured to a center support. A bottom wall of the main beam support mounting bracket includes slotted mounting openings for receipt of fasteners for attachment to a floor tunnel of a vehicle floor and frame cross-member. The fasteners threadingly engage weld-nuts on the frame cross-member. The bottom wall includes first, second, and third planar surfaces that interact with first, second, and third surfaces of the floor tunnel in the vehicle. Further, the main beam support mounting bracket provides for lateral attachment with the main beam support and the center support.

1. A main beam support mounting bracket for use in a vehicle, comprising:
 a first lateral end including an end wall that extends vertically upward from a bottom wall; 
 a second lateral end including first and second semi-cylindrical mounting pads with faces that are generally parallel to the end wall; 
 the bottom wall including a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a third planar surface, wherein the first planar surface, the second planar surface, and the third planar surface extend between the first lateral end and the second lateral end in a latitudinal direction, and wherein the first planar surface extends in a generally horizontal direction toward the second planar surface in a longitudinal direction, the second planar surface extends on an incline from the first planar surface to the third planar surface, and the third planar surface extends in a generally horizontal direction away from the second planar surface in the longitudinal direction. 
 
   
   
     2. The main beam support mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein bores horizontally extend through the end wall. 
   
   
     3. The main beam support mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the end wall extends vertically upward in a tapering fashion from the bottom wall. 
   
   
     4. The main beam support mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein threaded bores horizontally extend through the mounting pads. 
   
   
     5. The main beam support mounting bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein slotted mounting openings vertically extend through the second planar surface. 
   
   
     6. The main beam support mounting bracket according to  claim 3 , wherein each said slotted opening is adapted to receive a threaded fastener. 
   
   
     7. A main beam support mounting bracket assembly for use in a vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle floor extending in a length and a width direction of the vehicle, including a raised floor tunnel with downwardly directed holes providing communication to an area below the floor; 
 a frame cross-member disposed in the area below the floor, wherein weld-nuts are located on the frame cross-member so as to be aligned with the downwardly directed holes of the floor tunnel; 
 a main beam support mounting bracket, comprising
 a bottom wall with downwardly directed slotted mounting openings, wherein the main beam support mounting bracket is mechanically secured adapted to be to the frame cross-member with fasteners that laterally extend through the slotted mounting openings of the bottom wall of the main beam support mounting bracket and threadeningly engage the weld-nuts of the frame cross-member, 
 a first lateral end including an end wall with bores that horizontally extend through the end wall, wherein the end wall extends vertically upward from the bottom wall, and 
 a second lateral end including first and second semi-cylindrical mounting pads with faces that are generally parallel to the end wall, wherein threaded bores horizontally extend through the first and second mounting pads; 
 
 a center support with an upper end and a lower end, wherein openings horizontally extend through the lower end of the center support, wherein the center support is mechanically secured to the main beam support mount bracket with fasteners that laterally extend through the openings of the lower end of the center support and the threaded bores of the mounting pads; and 
 a main beam support with an upper end and a lower end, wherein slotted openings horizontally extend through the lower end of the main beam support, wherein the main beam support is mechanically secured adapted to be to the main beam support mount bracket with fasteners that laterally extend through the slotted openings of the main beam support and the bores of the end wall. 
 
   
   
     8. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the end wall of the main beam support mounting bracket extends vertically upward in a tapering fashion from the bottom wall. 
   
   
     9. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 7 , the bottom wall of the main beam support mounting bracket further comprising:
 a first planar surface, 
 a second planar surface, and 
 a third planar surface, wherein the first planar surface, the second planar surface, and the third planar surface extend between the first lateral end and the second lateral end in a latitudinal direction. 
 
   
   
     10. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the slotted mounting openings vertically extend through the second planar surface of the main beam support mounting bracket. 
   
   
     11. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the first planar surface of the main beam support mounting bracket extends in a generally horizontal direction toward the second planar surface in a longitudinal direction, the second planar surface extends on an incline from the first planar surface to the third planar surface, and the third planar surface extends in a generally horizontal direction away from the second planar surface in the longitudinal direction. 
   
   
     12. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 11 , the floor tunnel further comprising:
 a top wall, 
 a first end wall, 
 a second end wall, and 
 an aft wall, wherein the first end wall and the second end wall are generally inclined as they extend from the floor and terminate into the top wall. 
 
   
   
     13. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 12 , the top wall of the floor tunnel further comprising:
 a first surface, 
 a second surface, and 
 a third surface, wherein the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface laterally extend in a vehicle width direction between the first end wall and the second end wall of the floor tunnel. 
 
   
   
     14. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the first surface of the floor tunnel extends generally horizontally between the aft wall and the second surface, wherein the second surface is inclined when extending from the first surface to the third surface, and wherein the third surface extends generally horizontally in the longitudinal direction from the second surface. 
   
   
     15. The main beam support mounting bracket assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the first planar surface of the main beam support mounting bracket interacts with the first surface of the floor tunnel, wherein the second planar surface of the main beam support mounting bracket interacts with the second surface of the floor tunnel, and wherein the third planar surface of the main beam support mounting bracket interacts with the third surface of the floor tunnel.